PHOTOS: 2024 Kindleberger Summer Festival of the Performing Arts

The 2024 Kindleberger Summer Festival for the Arts took place from July 10 to 15 in Parchment. This longstanding, popular festival brings the community together in celebration of the arts, autos, and more. Check out Fran Dwight's joyful photos.

Nick Wahl, 26, was able to become a first-time home buyer with the purchase of this home in the Oakwood Neighborhood.
Getting started: How tough is it to find a home to buy in the Kalamazoo area?

“It used to be, we’d list a home on Monday and I’d get a call on Tuesday to show it on Wednesday. Now we list it on Monday and I get a call asking if I can show it in 5 minutes,” says Jim Hess, a Realtor with Jaqua Realtors in Kalamazoo. Prospective buyers -- and sellers -- have to be prepared for a brisk selling market in multiple price ranges, real estate professionals say.

DNSWM launches #DWord Campaign during Disability Pride Month

Disability Network Southwest Michigan (DNSWM) has launched the #DWord campaign, aiming to reshape cultural perceptions of the word "disability."

Michigan Health and Hospital Association represents all community hospitals in the state.
How public health collaborations with hospitals benefit Michigan’s communities

Yours, Mine and Ours — Public Health spoke with Lauren LaPine, Michigan Health and Hospital Association senior director of legislative and public policy about how various public health agencies and programs collaborate with hospitals across the state.  

Downtown construction: An unlikely catalyst for revitalized nightlife in Kalamazoo?

Kalamazoo street work may be slowing you down; that could have some advantages for a burgeoning downtown nightlife scene. Stay tuned for more stories in our summer series on Kalamazoo After Dark.

Capturing the magic: Balloon festival photos of Battle Creek’s Field of Flight

If you missed Battle Creek's Field of Flight Airshow and Hot Air Balloon Festival this year, be sure to mark your calendar for next year. On the Ground Photographer John Grap captured some photos for us — and a story, too.

Battle Creek Fire Department seeks to modernize its facilities

Long-overdue updates to Battle Creek's fire stations will help bring the structures into the 21st Century. The city is seeking a $20 million plus bond to fund the improvements.  

Green Sanctuary: Ahead of the curve, People’s Church commits to carbon neutrality by 2030

The City of Kalamazoo's Sustainability Director, Justin Gish, spoke on Kalamazoo's carbon emissions to the People's Church Green Sanctuary Committee. "The Green Sanctuary Committee is essentially walking the talk…even when it seems like it's just a drop in the bucket.”

Spongebob musical to be performed by all-youth cast at Marshall’s Franke Center for the Arts

"I’m a very awkward person and sometimes not the best person to get along with. Being with the theater community, it’s like a family where I can be myself and feel accepted."

Artist/Designer: Mahdi Hassnawi. Please see Artist's Statement below.
Voices of Youth: The price of fast fashion — Is it worth it?

“I think the metaphor that sticks with me is like if you buried it in the woods, would it be there when you came back 20 years later? I want my clothing to add to the planet and not take away from the planet, and so I try as much as possible to only sew with things that will biodegrade so that they are not going to follow future generations.”

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